A 38 year old Dunnes Stores sales assistant who lacerated her right thumb with discarded glass while removing rubbish bags has been awarded €6,050 in damages for a personal injury* claim against her employers.

The injured lady told the Circuit Civil Court that on the 31st October 2010 she had been working in the drapery stock room at Dunnes Stores Westside, Galway, when the accident happened.

She said had been holding a plastic bag open while a colleague was putting a rubbish bag in it and a shard of glass from the rubbish bag lacerated the back of her thumb which began to bleed.

The court heard that she was driven to Galway University Hospital where an X-ray revealed no glass was in the wound, which was cleaned and repaired with glue.

The court was told that she had to wear a support bandage for a few months and experienced difficulties while writing and handling objects. She brought a personal injury claim against Dunnes Stores for the injuries she had suffered.

Dunnes stores, which denied negligence, said a medical report stated the employee suffered a simple quarter of an inch laceration which required minimal care. 

Judge Deery, hearing the wound had healed and left a small scar only visible on very close inspection, awarded the lady €6,050 damages for the personal injuries she had suffered.

*In contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.